Feb
16

Question of the Week: What Do You Collect?

Besides my lifelong collections of books (especially children's books from my youth), black handbags and girly notebooks, I have a growing menagerie of bird-shaped items from my travels around Toronto and beyond. It all started years ago with a delicate crystal sparrow I bought in Prague. I slide my most precious piece of jewellery, my mother's engagement ring, onto its tail every night for safekeeping. Next came this salt and pepper set from BC-based Torre & Tagus that I bought in Halifax (apologies for the small photo).

 

A few of these cute $3 LED lights from IKEA (photo courtesy of rooruu.blogspot.com).

Then an antique-y pair of lovebirds from San Diego, a baby blue salt and pepper set from one of my favourite Toronto stores, Chatelet, and a wooden whistle my best friend brought me from Estonia. Now, I've got my eye on Jonathan Adler's classic large bird bowl done over in gold. 

What do you collect?

How did you start?

Have you ever tried to stop, but your friends and family kept on buying you the same things in an endless cycle of cow-print collectibles and kitten sweatshirts?

Related: Tips on displaying your collectibles with style.

Past Questions of the Week:

 

Comments:

very interesting indeed. I mostly collect coins and pins, stuff that are common. Love the birds at swaroviski- they are gorgeous

February 16, 2009 2:51 PM

 

I collect Christmas! Hand blown glass ornaments; German hand made Nutcrackers; Costume jewelry - Christmas tree pins; and most recently Swarovski Crystal Snowflakes. :)

February 16, 2009 7:57 PM

 

Love your birds!      I collect Royal Doulton  (female) figurines.   The  first one was received as a Wedding Gift thirty-eight years ago.

February 17, 2009 8:52 PM

 

I COLLECT LIGHTHOUSES AND IT'S ACCESSORIES AND CHRISTMAS VILLAGES AND ACCESSORIES

February 18, 2009 12:37 PM

 

Oooh! I love Chatelet too! And now that they have a full kids store, I'm in heaven everytime step in. My house is definitely not very feminine and frilly but I secretly love the look so Chatelet has become my outlet when I need a does of pretty Victorian fanciness. Can't say I collect much (besides books and shoes) but if I did, it would be birds as well. Love.

February 19, 2009 10:21 AM

 

I collect perfume bottles. It all started when I wanted to block the view into a bathroom window without using a curtain (the view into the bathroom was already pretty much restricted because of its height in relation to the house next door).  I got the inspiration from a display of jars filled with beads on glass shelves that cover the window of Sassy Beads on the Byward Market in Ottawa. I already had a beautiful handblown perfume bottle and surrounded it with a variety of bottles in different shapes and sizes. I looked for coloured glass bottles and filled clear glass ones with water tinted with food colouring. Friends started giving me interesting bottles and I began purchasing bottles on trips. As the collection grew I got rid of the less interesting "filler" bottles. A few years later I moved and put my collection into a glass-shelved display case under pot lights.I use plexiglass stands of varying heights to make the display more interesting and to keep it from looking cluttered.  I am always on the lookout for new and unusual bottles to add to the collection.

February 21, 2009 2:58 PM

 

I collect Angels of any shape, size, colour, type or origin; the more the merrier.  

March 6, 2009 5:34 PM

 

Cookbooks, is what I have most of. Dh collects coins.

March 8, 2009 12:45 PM

 

I love to collect Red Hat items...I have lots, from jewelry to clothing to hats & small figurines,  just shelves full..Now have to dust them. Also have an Elvis collection memorabilia, but have to stop!! Elvis & Red Hats don't share space too well..Elvis looks full of fun with a Red Hat on.. I receive many as gifts from friends.

March 19, 2009 10:24 AM

 
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